Air National Guard Airman First Class Derek M. Boston graduated from basic military training at Lackland Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. The airman completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Airmen who complete basic training earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force. Boston earned distinction as an honor graduate. He is the son of Lynn Mitchell of Oscoda, Mich., and Joseph Boston of Ortonville. The airman is a 2009 graduate of Oscoda Area High School.

Chamber ScholarshipsLisa Dwyer of the Ortonville Chamber of Commerce and Alissa Reddy, Our Lady of the Lakes High School graduate receiving one of four $500 scholarships from the Ortonville Chamber. Brandon High School graduates Andrew Grix, Patrick Herta and Colin Jones also received the $500 scholarships. Photo by David Fleet.

Academics

Kristiana Dixon graduated from California State University - Fresno in May. Dixon earned a masters degree in criminology with a concentration on victimology. Dixon attended the Brandon School District kindergarten through eighth grade. She graduated from Notre Dame Preparatory High School. She is the daughter of Bruce & Marla Dixon of Ortonville.

Lindsay Bauman graduated from Michigan State University in May with a degree in Communicative Sciences and Disorders. She will attend Wayne State University in the fall where she will pursue a doctorate in audiology. Bauman is a 2006 graduate of Brandon High School and is the daughter of Midge Stewart and Doug Bauman.

Laura Kwiatkowski, a 2006 graduate of Brandon High School, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Oakland University on May 3 with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. Kwiatkowski also received departmental honors in Biochemistry and received the Department of Athletics Endowed Scholarship for 2009-2010. She was also in the Summit League's Scholar Athlete Spotlight last March.

Kwiatkowski will be attending the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, Az, in the fall to pursue a doctoral degree.

Her parents are Mark and Veronica Kwiatkowski of Ortonville.

Jennifer M. Ikeler of Ortonville was named to the deans's list at Lake Superior State University for Spring 2010 semester in the school of nursing. To make the dean's list, students must be attending full time and achieve a 3.5 grade point average for the semester on a 4.0 scale.

Miracle Memorial Scholarship

The PFC Joseph A. Miracle Memorial Scholarship recipients for the 2010 school year are Brandon High School seniors, Lyndsey Tennant and Matthew Sweetman. Each student will receive a $1,000 scholarship;

Lyndsey plans to attend Northwood University to study Fashion Marketing and Management; Matthew plans to attend either Ferris State University or Western Michigan University to pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering to secure a career in green, wind and solar technology. Lyndsey was on the BHS Pom-Pon team and helped coach middle school girls in the same. She has tried out and been accepted on the Northwood University cheerleading team for the fall. Matthew was the team captain of the BHS wrestling team and also participated in cross country, the two sports for all four years of his high school career.

The PFC Joseph A. Miracle Memorial Scholarship was created by generous donations from community members, after Joe made the ultimate sacrifice on July 5, 2007 in Kunar Province, Afghanistan. Joe attended Brandon Schools from kindergarten through grade 12, and loved to play on the football team and baseball team while at BHS. He graduated from BHS in 2003 and joined the US Army, 173rd Airborne in April 2006. He loved the Army and treated it as an extension of his high school football years; embracing it totally. His six older siblings, five nieces and nephews, and parents, Glenn and Judy Miracle, appreciate being able to honor Joe's fighting spirit by assisting two BHS student-athletes to pursue their dreams.